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The Roses To Launch Live Streaming

The Roses in Tewkesbury is delighted to have received funding from Arts Council England to support the pilot of its first ever live streaming event, which will allow the venue to film and broadcast into homes, schools and organisations anywhere in the world and through any mobile device or computer.

This pioneering mobile technology will be trialled for the first time on Thursday 2 March at the performance of I AM BEAST by Sparkle & Dark Theatre Company.

Phil Gibby, Area Director, South west, Arts Council England, says: “We’re delighted to be supporting The Roses’ live streaming event. Digital technology is transforming the way we make, distribute, receive and exchange art and the Arts Council is committed to supporting digital change and innovation across the arts and culture sector. We look forward to seeing this method of reaching new and different audiences develop.”

Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. They support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2015 and 2018, Arts Council England plan to invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

Sparkle and Dark are a leading British puppetry company who use unique life-size puppets alongside UV landscapes and a live music score. It was felt that their production would be the perfect choice not only for its exciting artistic content but also its suitability to reach a target audience of residential schools, who will be working with The Roses to feedback on their first experience of live streaming.

Caroline Lawrence, Head of Marketing at The Roses, said:“Our ability to live stream events will revolutionise the way in which we can reach audiences; from those who would find it difficult to attend in person, to those who are simply too far away geographically. We are hugely excited to be one of the first theatres in the country to be able to offer live streaming and look forward to expanding this side of our business over the coming months and years.”

The theatre chose to work with Anglo-Danish technology company, Audux, and are deploying a system called POBIT to do the actual live streaming.

Carl Walker, MD of Audux UK said:“Our POBIT systems have been used to easily live stream many different arts events, from rock concerts to Shakespeare plays, and even opera, in incredible quality to online audiences all over the world. We are thrilled to be working with The Roses, and are excited they are forging a trail with live streaming that other regional theatres are sure to follow.”

Thursday 2 March will be an exciting day for the live audience too. For the first time, ticket holders will have the opportunity to be part of an audience for a live broadcast from Tewkesbury. For many years The Roses has screened productions from locations as exotic as New York and Sydney, but never before have the roles been reversed.

“There is a real buzz about the prospect that in addition to the live audience members at The Roses, hundreds more people could be watching at home or school, and feeling that they too are part of the action” says Caroline.

I AM BEAST is a story about what happens when the wilder and darker parts of our mind to take control and transform our own realities. The story was was inspired by the questions: Where do we draw the line between a socially acceptable relationship with our inner world and mental illness? And how are personal relationships affected by grief and loss? I AM BEAST was created in collaboration with London teenagers who have experienced the loss of a parent as well as psychiatrists, neurologists and researchers of teenage trauma and was developed with Wellcome Trust and the Arts Council.

After the performance there will be an exclusive live Q&A which those viewing remotely can participate in by tweeting @RosesTheatre and sending in questions or comments.

Tickets for I AM BEAST, on Thursday 2 March at 7.30pm, are available through The Roses’ website rosestheatre.org or Box Office on 01684 295074, and cost £15.50 - £7.50. Those who are interested in watching the live broadcast should call Box Office in the first instance.